I’m Feeling Depressed

In fact I’m feeling quite well. But when I consider the automatic response I make when I meet someone on the street… “hello, how are you?” and I say, “great, I doing just great.” Hmmm. Feeling depressed somehow seems more appropriate.

But why?

It is a lovely October day. Sun’s out, crisp temperature and looking around, everyday things look full of like and quite good. Rowers are practicing for tomorrow’s “Head of the Schuylkill Regatta”. Full of life and grace, what could be more optimistic?

Well let’s contrast this optimism for a dose of alternate reality.

The trails of our National Parks have been hardly disturb with new visitors since their closure due to the senseless and idiotic Government shut down. How can one logically deal with politics where one party (maybe both) thinks that negotiating is better done by holding a gun to the other side’s head?

Now its time for “immigration reform” to fill prime time. This issue is destine to go no where, too, due to the same type of “government shutdown” thinking. The hoot is that House Republicans will show a deaf ear mainly because there can be no reform without a pathway to citizenship. Citizenship is seen as more votes for Democrats. Ain’t going to happen. (And the real hoot is that with no movement on immigration, GOP Presidential chances in 2016 go with it.

Depression also has room for non-partisan issues too. The Eric Snowdon-NSA scandal is a gift that keeps on giving. The latest round of revelations involves the NSA listening in on private cell phone conversations of European Government leaders. Big brother is out of control it appears.

Back in Philadelphia, public schools remain underfunded (like about $300 million). In addition, those who graduate (only 50-60%) in far too many cases are unemployable due to inadequate verbal and math skills. State Government has cut support for the Philadelphia School System and called for major changes to the Teacher’s contract as the price for more help. What about the students?

The government shutdown, immigration reform, the NSA intelligence gathering, and even the Pennsylvania State’s lack of response to the Philadelphia School District pleas have the same themes in common. Those opposed to the current situation feel licensed to wreak disproportionate damage on innocent standby-ers. A second common theme is that the damage is done to others and those inflicting the damage suffer nothing.

Isn’t this depressing?

But wait, there’s more.

The Pennsylvania House Education Committee has just reported out a bill which would require all public schools to post a “motto” prominently within each and every school. The motto is “in God we trust”. This, of course, makes a mockery of the term “Education Committee” since apparently none have read the Constitution recently. On a higher plain, forgetting the separation of church and state, doesn’t a “motto” seem irrelevant compared to schools graduating unprepared students?

And lets not forget the Republican controlled House will likely pass this measure as will the Republican controlled Senate. Then instead of sending more financial assistance to Philadelphia Schools, the State can spend lots of money in a losing court fight defending their ridiculous action.

Hmmm, being depressed might be the appropriate response to “hello, how are you”.